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Histomorphometric characterization of subgemmal neurogenous plaques
Ana Carolina Amorim Pellicioli1, Felipe Paiva Fonseca1, Rodrigo Neves Silva1
1Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil.
Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology
|February 24, 2017
Summary
Subgemmal neurogenous plaques (SNPs) are normal neural structures on the tongue, not cancerous lesions. Understanding their features helps pathologists avoid misdiagnosis and guides further investigation if symptoms arise.
Area of Science:
- Oral Pathology
- Neuroanatomy
- Histomorphometry
Background:
- Subgemmal neurogenous plaques (SNPs) are neural structures found in the oral cavity.
- Their precise nature and relationship to surrounding tissues require detailed characterization.
- Distinguishing SNPs from neoplastic lesions is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To histomorphometrically characterize subgemmal neurogenous plaques (SNPs).
- To elucidate the relationship between SNPs and adjacent microanatomy in tongue biopsies.
- To provide diagnostic clarity for oral pathologists regarding this entity.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 28 SNPs from three oral pathology centers over 12 years.
- Histologic examination using hematoxylin and eosin staining.
- Immunohistochemical staining for S100 protein and histomorphometric analysis via ImageScope software.
Main Results:
- The study included 27 patients (21 women, 6 men) with a mean age of approximately 47 years.
- SNPs were frequently adjacent to tongue epithelium (71.4%) and lymphoid tissue (57.1%).
- The mean SNP area was 0.160 mm², with a mean distance of 0.312 mm to the overlying epithelium.
Conclusions:
- SNPs are identified as normal, non-neoplastic neural structures representing an anatomic variation on the posterior tongue.
- While typically asymptomatic, SNPs can occasionally present with signs or symptoms requiring further evaluation.
- Awareness of SNP characteristics is essential for pathologists to prevent misclassification as neural tumors.
